Rowett: The magic of the cup

Manager Gary Rowett has admitted he isn't sure which Hereford side will turn up when the Bulls arrive at the Pirelli Stadium on Sunday for the first round of the FA Cup.

Having watched Sunday's opponents and had them watched on serval occasions the Brewers boss is unsure exactly how the Skrill Conference Premier side will line up.

He told Brewers Player: "We know they've got flexibility in the way that they play.

"We've had them watched and been watching them through DVDs of their last six games."

"They've played a back five within that time, they've played 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 so there's a certain degree of flexibility that they could use so it is difficult to prepare in some ways because we're not entirely sure until they turn up and line up exactly what they are going to do," said Rowett.

With Hereford United now plying their trade in non-league Rowett is only too aware that his side cannot afford to take them lightly on Sunday.

Rowett believes that the atmosphere that the FA Cup creates means anyone can beat anyone on their day.

"The FA Cup is always the same, it's a one off game, any team can beat the other team so it's making sure you're prepared mentally how you would against any side so that nothing surprises you."

The Albion boss knows only too well how a perceived underdog can seize the moment in the cup, Rowett was part of the then Premier League side Leicester City when they lost to League 2 Wycombe Wanderers 2-1.

"I think a home game and the magic of the cup, I look forward to these games, I think they're brilliant occasions and we have just got to make sure that we're not on the end of an upset."

The match also represents an opportunity for Rowett's side to put right some indifferent home form, albeit in the cup.

The Brewers boss is not concerned by his sides home form and believes the work his team are doing week-in week out will pay dividends at home in the coming games.

"I think our home form has been a combination of bad luck and teams playing different formations against us, it's just a combination of one or two things.

"We've not played as well as we can do at home, but I don't see it as a problem at the moment.

"It's something we want to improve on, just like last season when we wanted to improve on our away form.

"We're working very hard to come up with a solution, it'll be nice to win a home game again.

"I was hoping after Torquay we would kick on and put an end to it but by losing to Morecambe it puts it back in people's minds," he explained.

Watch Gary Rowett's full interview on Brewers Player or watch our YouTube Channel for an insight into the manager best and worst FA Cup memories.